Jason Tanner
Jason Tanner (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Georgia House of Representatives to represent District 20. Tanner is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on May 19, 2026.[source]
Tanner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Jason Tanner served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1993 to 2005. Tanner graduated from Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School. Tanner earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina in 1998. Tanner's career experience includes working as a technology professional.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on May 19, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 20
Jason Tanner (D) and Erik Zeil (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 20 on May 19, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Jason Tanner  | |
| Erik Zeil | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 20
Incumbent Charlice Byrd (R) and Mark Fernandez (R) are running in the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 20 on May 19, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Charlice Byrd | |
| Mark Fernandez | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Tanner received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jason Tanner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Tanner's responses.
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This commitment is a family legacy, with military service dating back to the Civil War. Raised in a working-class household in Fort Oglethorpe GA, Jason learned the values of hard work from his parents; a chicken plant employee and a truck driver. Their example instilled in him a conviction that elected leaders must stand up for working people.
After high school, Jason enlisted in the Marine Corps, beginning a twelve-year career and eventually reaching the rank of Captain. A decorated wartime veteran, Jason deployed during the Iraq War, always focused on the mission and the Marines he served with.
Jason continued his service as a Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service, supporting protective missions for national leaders and catapulting his later career in to a near two decade vocation in digital forensics. Today, as Director of Forensics for the Social Media Victims Law Center, he works tirelessly to hold "Big Tech" accountable and protect child victims of online exploitation and abuse.
Jason is running for State Representative to bring this record of competence and accountability to District 20. He is ready to defend the middle class and serve as the "new face of leadership" for Cherokee County.- Jason believes public office was never meant to be a career, it was meant to be a responsibility. Too often, leaders spend so long in politics that they lose sight of the people who put them there, trading service for loyalty to a political tribe. Jason believes government works best when representatives remember who they answer to: the citizens of their community. Leadership should be measured by integrity, accountability, and a willingness to listen; not by party lines or political ambition. Jason is stepping forward because he believes Cherokee County deserves representation that puts people before politics and service above self, always remembering that elected officials are chosen to serve their neighbors, not a political machine.
- Jason believes effective representation is built on solving problems, not fueling partisan conflict. In his career in digital forensics and eDiscovery, Jason has been trusted to tackle complex challenges where facts, evidence, and results, not ideology, determine success. That experience shaped his belief that government works best when leaders focus on solutions that improve everyday life for the people they serve. Jason is running for the Georgia House to bring that same results-driven mindset to his role as a representative, focusing on the issues that matter most to Cherokee County: strong schools, responsible tax policy, and safe communities. For Jason, leadership means listening, analyzing the facts, and delivering results.
- Cherokee County is growing rapidly, and Jason believes that growth demands leadership focused on the future, not the political battles of the past. As our community evolves, our challenges and opportunities will require thoughtful planning, transparency, and a commitment to responsible leadership. Jason believes District 20 deserves representation that is forward-looking, practical, and prepared to meet the needs of a changing community. He is committed to helping ensure Cherokee County remains a place where families can thrive, businesses can grow, and neighborhoods remain safe and strong. Jason is stepping forward to provide the accountable, future-focused leadership our community deserves.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 12, 2026
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